Native Hawaiian protestors joined the Native American fight for restricting the North Dakota Access Pipeline construction that possibly threatens sacred sites and water security, according to NBC. Individuals who participated in the protest traveled from the Hawaiian Islands to North Dakota to protest for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who claims that the crude oil pipeline will destroy sacred sites and negatively affect the water sources.
Terry Naauao Pane‘e, professor of Hawaiian language at BYUH, said, “Tribes from all over are coming over to back them up. Whether they’re from the east coast or northwest, they have the same problems. If they can band together and stop this, that creates hope for everyone else.”
Pane‘e continued, “It’s a part of what the Hawaiians would call ‘kuleana’ (responsibility), because as Native Americans and Native Hawaiians, our kuleana is to take care of the land. If we don’t take care of the land, the land won’t take care of us. That’s the mentality behind the Native American movement.”
According to the Dakota Access Pipeline official website, the oil transporting pipe will span 1,172 miles across North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. The website claims that the pipe connects the oil market to domestic production, allowing for a direct, cost-efficient, and safe process.
Tiyarra Roanhorse, a senior studying exercise sport science from Arizona, spoke of her perspective towards the protests as a member of the Navajo Nation. “A lot of the controversy is over the pipeline being put through sacred lands, which in my opinion is the most horrible thing they could actually do. Native Americans have been fighting for that land, and just the thought of them destroying that land is disrespectful to their culture and my culture as a Native American.”
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe began voicing concerns over the construction of the pipeline, according to Smithsonian Magazine. While all land was legally attained for the construction of the pipeline, the tribe was concerned for the safety of sacred sites that have been on the land far before it was claimed.
Dr. Tevita Ka‘ili, professor of anthropology, said, “Many of the problems we had early on have not been reconciled as far as land issues. Most of that land was theirs anyway in the beginning. Of course, when settlers came, a lot of that land was acquired through theft, illegal ways, or breaking of treaties. That’s where [Native Americans] are at today.”
In response, protesters approached the construction site on Sept. 3, crossing into the work zone as they chanted for the workers to stop, with videos of the protests surfacing online. Local police officers responded to the protests with pepper spray and police dogs.
Ka‘ili reflected on the event, “Bringing in dogs is provoking [the conflict] in a way. I think they weren’t prepared because they don’t understand that the people see these lands as sacred. They might just see it as real estate or property. So there’s a conflict of perspective on land. It’s very hard to understand how there is a spiritual way of thinking about land that indigenous people have.”
Since this event, members of 300 tribes have flocked to the pipeline to join in the protection of the sites, according to Des Moines Daily. Pua Case and Hāwane Case, a mother and daughter from Hilo, traveled to North Dakota to represent the indigenous Hawaiian people in the protests. According to a NBC news article, Pua said, “I went to Standing Rock because it is the time for all of us who are committed to protecting the water, the earth and our life ways and to align in our efforts, to strengthen one another.”
Ka‘ili said, “I think it is getting stronger. From now on, these groups will grow bigger. What we must depend on now is how the other side will respond to this and if they will figure out a way to resolve this peacefully.”
Roanhorse said, “It’s showing how much power we can have as people. You can have a lot of problems between tribes, but in order to unite like that is not only a blessing to ourselves but to the different tribes because we know that we can look out for each other.”
Writer: Hyram Yarbro